Tuesday, October 7, 2014

TV ads extol right to travel to Cuba

TV ads extol right to travel to Cuba
By William E. Gibson

A lobbying group on Monday launched a TV and Internet ad extolling the
value of unfettered travel by Cuban-Americans to Cuba.

#CubaNow, a new advocacy group in South Florida and Washington, is
trying to prevent attempts to roll back looser travel rules set by
President Barack Obama in 2009. The new rules allow Cuban-Americans
unlimited visits to family members.

The ad campaign is an attempt to repudiate "politicians who continue to
cling to failed hardline policies," group director Ric Herrero said.

The ad, delivered in Spanish with English subtitles, features four
Cuban-Americans who tell the story of their families' separation by the
Castro regime and how changes in 2009 made it possible to visit them.
The ads will run on local Spanish broadcasts in the Miami TV market and
online through Facebook.

The four exiles take turns telling viewers:

"Several years ago, the Castros separated my family. Getting here took
great sacrifice. Thanks to changes made to U.S. law in 2009, I can now
visit Cuba to support and reunite with my family and friends.
Unfortunately, every election year there are candidates who threaten to
take that right away from me to try to win votes. That is why I vote.
Because I refuse to allow another politician to come between me and my
loved ones again."

Citing recent poll results, Herrero said the ad campaign reflects a
shift in opinion by South Florida's Cuban-American community, which is
increasingly taking advantage of a chance to visit the island.


While lobbying against travel limits, Herrero affirmed his opposition
to the Cuban government, saying: "We must continue to pressure the Cuban
government to respect the basic human rights of the Cuban people and
insist on expanding the flow of support to strengthen all sectors of
civil society inside the Island, including the many independent
entrepreneurs who so desperately need our help."

Source: TV ads extol right to travel to Cuba - Sun Sentinel -
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/politics-blog/sfl-tv-ads-extol-right-to-travel-to-cuba-20141006-story.html

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